The Stroller: 'You bet'

Published: Saturday, February 9, 2013 at 3:15 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 7, 2013 at 4:12 p.m.

“Bless your heart,” begins Campobello resident Ray W. Varner's response to Larry Cooper's request that someone explain the South's love of guns and war and refusal to accept federal money for education. “Let me attempt to explain,” says Mr. Varner. “Federal money comes with strings attached. We, or some of us, here in South Carolina don't believe in all the mandates that the feds attach to that money. Look how smart our federal government is. It's trillions of dollars in debt. Our Congress has a 23 percent approval rating. Some don't read their emails, and it cost the lives of four Americans. Most of the people I know don't hate Northerners or transplants from Florida. We may joke about or with them but don't hate them. Most people I know don't have anything against immigrants. Add the word illegal, and that is a different story. This country has a process to go through to become an American citizen and it worked once upon a time. Now, let's talk about loving war. I have no clue where you got the idea that people here love war. Most folks I know would never want to see this country at war, although sometimes war is necessary. I believe even you would agree with that. But do we love war? No. My God does not like war either and would rather have peace when possible. The Bible states that there is a time for war, and he, God himself, sent the nation of Israel and other nations to war on several occasions. Please read Ecclesiastes, chapter 3. Do the people around here like their guns? You bet! A considerable number of people in South Carolina and all over this country like their guns. I know some folks who would rather sleep with their gun than their spouse, and it's OK to sleep with your gun and your spouse. Mr. Cooper, if only the bad guys had guns, we would sort of be at a disadvantage. I realize some folks are afraid of having a gun in their house, and that's OK — advantage, bad guy. Other folks have sort of a strange belief that if we say please, thank you, excuse me, sir and a bunch of other niceties, the bad guy will not bother us. Most of the folks in the South use most of those polite words most of the time to those who are not attempting to harm our families and friends, and that includes those who speak with an accent. But we would be just a wee bit foolish to say any of those niceties to a person who is in the process of kicking our door down. We would be making a mad dash for our gun. I hope I have enlightened you just a little, Mr. Cooper.”

QUIPS KEITH LEE of Inman: “OK, the inauguration of our new president is behind us, so let's give this guy a chance. Remember he inherited an awful mess from his predecessor, Barack Obama.”

‘IT WORKS': Folks, stop what you are doing and get the flu vaccine. That order comes from Pete Jolley of the Peach Valley community. “Some say it will make them sick, but they're nuts,” he says. “Get the flu shot. It works. Ten bucks is better and cheaper than the hospital.”

ODDS AND ENDS: Billie Bryant of Pacolet is asking for Stroller readers' help in coming up with the name of either the manager or owner of the former Palmetto Theater in Spartanburg in 1949. “A lot of ‘Our Gang' movies were produced around that time, and my husband and my sister were in the one that was filmed here in 1949 and shown on the screen at that time,” she recalls. If you have the answer, you can reach Mrs. Bryant at 474-2025.

<p>“Bless your heart,” begins Campobello resident Ray W. Varner's response to Larry Cooper's request that someone explain the South's love of guns and war and refusal to accept federal money for education. “Let me attempt to explain,” says Mr. Varner. “Federal money comes with strings attached. We, or some of us, here in South Carolina don't believe in all the mandates that the feds attach to that money. Look how smart our federal government is. It's trillions of dollars in debt. Our Congress has a 23 percent approval rating. Some don't read their emails, and it cost the lives of four Americans. Most of the people I know don't hate Northerners or transplants from Florida. We may joke about or with them but don't hate them. Most people I know don't have anything against immigrants. Add the word illegal, and that is a different story. This country has a process to go through to become an American citizen and it worked once upon a time. Now, let's talk about loving war. I have no clue where you got the idea that people here love war. Most folks I know would never want to see this country at war, although sometimes war is necessary. I believe even you would agree with that. But do we love war? No. My God does not like war either and would rather have peace when possible. The Bible states that there is a time for war, and he, God himself, sent the nation of Israel and other nations to war on several occasions. Please read Ecclesiastes, chapter 3. Do the people around here like their guns? You bet! A considerable number of people in South Carolina and all over this country like their guns. I know some folks who would rather sleep with their gun than their spouse, and it's OK to sleep with your gun and your spouse. Mr. Cooper, if only the bad guys had guns, we would sort of be at a disadvantage. I realize some folks are afraid of having a gun in their house, and that's OK — advantage, bad guy. Other folks have sort of a strange belief that if we say please, thank you, excuse me, sir and a bunch of other niceties, the bad guy will not bother us. Most of the folks in the South use most of those polite words most of the time to those who are not attempting to harm our families and friends, and that includes those who speak with an accent. But we would be just a wee bit foolish to say any of those niceties to a person who is in the process of kicking our door down. We would be making a mad dash for our gun. I hope I have enlightened you just a little, Mr. Cooper.”</p><p><b></p><p>QUIPS KEITH LEE of Inman: </b>“OK, the inauguration of our new president is behind us, so let's give this guy a chance. Remember he inherited an awful mess from his predecessor, Barack Obama.”</p><p><b></p><p>'IT WORKS': </b>Folks, stop what you are doing and get the flu vaccine. That order comes from Pete Jolley of the Peach Valley community. “Some say it will make them sick, but they're nuts,” he says. “Get the flu shot. It works. Ten bucks is better and cheaper than the hospital.”</p><p><b></p><p>ODDS AND ENDS: </b>Billie Bryant of Pacolet is asking for Stroller readers' help in coming up with the name of either the manager or owner of the former Palmetto Theater in Spartanburg in 1949. “A lot of 'Our Gang' movies were produced around that time, and my husband and my sister were in the one that was filmed here in 1949 and shown on the screen at that time,” she recalls. If you have the answer, you can reach Mrs. Bryant at 474-2025.</p>